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The John Oaksey National Hunt Chase, which is named in honour of the dual champion amateur jockey and leading journalist this year, has attracted an entry of 85 – equal to the record number received in 2009 Oaksey, who died at the age of 83 in September, captured the four-mile contest in Sabaria in 1959.

This year’s renewal takes place on day two of The Festival, Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 13. David Pipe is responsible for the most entries and the seven from the Pond House handler include Exeter beginners’ chase victor Buddy Bolero and Goulanes, who captured the Listed Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham’s Open meeting in November.

Jonjo O’Neill has saddled the winner of the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase on five occasions and the trainer could bid to continue his superb record with Merry King, who was beaten a nose in Haydock’s Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase in December, Sandown Park handicap chase runner-up Johns Spirit and Twirling Magnet.

A powerful quartet from Paul Nicholls includes impressive Warwick scorer Rocky Creek and Sire Collonges, who won the Rewards4Racing Novices’ Chase at The Open. Recent chase winners Hawkes Point and Keppols Hill may also represent the champion trainer.

Houblon Des Obeaux captured the Grade Two Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton in November for Venetia Williams, while the Kim Bailey-trained Harry Topper has also been successful in Grade Two company, having stormed to victory in the Worcester Novices’ Chase at Newbury in November.

Gordon Elliott and Rebecca Curtis both registered their first Cheltenham Festival successes in this race over the past two years and Pauline Robson may also bid for a first Festival win with Rival D’Estruval, who took a Kelso novices’ chase by 23 lengths in December.
Donald McCain has given entries to the progressive trio of Grouse Lodge, Real Milan, and Red Rocco, while Alan King has engaged Godsmejudge, who was narrowly beaten in the Grade Three Classic Chase at Warwick on January 12.

A total of 28 Irish-trained entries include six from the stable of Willie Mullins, who rode Hazy Dawn (1982) and Macks Friendly (1984) to victory in the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase. Vesper Bell was second in a Grade One novices’ hurdle at Punchestown in April and the sevenyear- old was the ready winner of a beginners’ chase at the same course in December. Last year’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle second Boston Bob made a winning start to his chasing career at Navan In December, while Back In Focus has recorded three wins from as many starts over fences, including a head success in Leopardstown’s Grade One Topaz Novice Chase.
Immediate Response, Terminal and Marasonnien complete the formidable Mullins challenge.

Gordon Elliott has five contenders including Mount Benbulben, a Grade Two winner over hurdles, and the 2011 Coral Cup victor Carlito Brigante, while Dessie Hughes has entered the progressive Raz De Maree, Lyreen Legend and recent Grade Two scorer Tofino Bay. Sea Of Thunder, from the stable of Charles Byrnes, and the Edward O’Grady-trained Solstice Knight, also feature among
the Irish-trained contingent .

Same Difference will take his chance in Saturday’s Racing Plus Chase at Kempton Park, for which he is a 16-1 chance, and will use the race as a prelude to the four-mile John Oaksey National Hunt Chase at the Festival.

Think Nicholls mentioned Jewson dor Sire Collonges so NRNB way to go if you are playing imo

Horses to towards the head of the official ratings have held the upper hand in the National Hunt Chase in recent years and Sire Collonges must be at the top of every shortlist this year if sent to the race by Paul Nicholls.

The four-miler is one of four races where the grey holds an entry and if the betting is to be believed, the JLT Speciality Handicap is his most likely engagement.

But 16/1 will look an absolute steal of a price if he does line up in the National Hunt Chase, where he is the highest rated of all of the entrants off a mark of 146.

Interestingly, the last two years have thrown up similar results, not only in the victories of Chicago Grey and Teaforthree, but also in the other horses to occupy the each-way places.

The first three home on each occasion have been rated no lower than 137 and this is bad news for prominent pair in the betting Vesper Bell (8/1) and Goulanes (10/1), who have not yet run enough over the larger obstacles to be given an official rating.

In fact, only 11 of the entries fit this criteria, but in their respective years, like Sire Collonges, Chicago Grey and Teaforthree were the highest rated.

Furthermore, Cheltenham form has been common among six of the last eight National Hunt Chase winners and Sire Collonges has already experienced these fences twice this season.

Harry Topper is the current favourite at 6/1 and the market leader has won the last two renewals, while he is second on ratings to Sire Collonges.

The biggest obstacle it seems that he needs to overcome is that of age, as there has only ever been one winner of this race younger than seven and Harry Topper is a six-year-old.

Also likely to step up in trip is Merry King, who has a couple of handicap options but looks tailor-made for the four-miler, with his relaxed style and bold jumping. "The proof of the pudding comes now, in the eating," O'Neill said. "Though it still feels a long time to Tuesday week."